Operating Session 24

Operating session #24 took place on Sunday 2/15/2026.  The session started at 12:32 PM railroad time, where the previous session had left off, and ended at 9:18 PM railroad time.  This was a session for Amrail and I had 7 crew in addition to myself.  We ran at a 3:1 clock ratio.  Four of the seven crew members were first-timers on the layout. 

Here were the assignments for the session, afternoon of Tuesday 9/22/1959:

• Clock on at 12:32 PM
• 12:32 PM ATSF/P&E/C&IM/P&PU dispatcher on duty.  Dan J, all session job.
• 12:32 PM ATSF Pekin switcher on duty.  Mitch R, all day job.
• 12:32 PM PPU yard switcher on duty.  Al K, all day job.
• 12:32 PM ATSF Eastward extra local freight starting in Roanoke.  Paul H + Alex M.
• 12:40 PM ATSF Eastward coal empty extra from East Yard.  Mike H.
• Late 12:05 12:50 PM PE #11 Westward passenger from PE staging (Bloomington).  Bob D.
• Late 12:20 12:40 PM ATSF #17 Westward mail and express from ATSF staging (Streator).  Devon P.
• Late 12:50 1:20 PM PE #95 Westward freight from PE staging (Bloomington).  Bob D.
• 2:00 PM PE Pekin switcher on duty.  Devon P, all day job.
• 2:00 PM PE #12 Eastward passenger from East Peoria.  Mike H.
• 1:50 PM ATSF Westward extra local freight from Streator.  Paul H + Alex M.
• 3:05pm CIM #7 Southward freight from East Peoria.  Mike H.
• 3:15pm ATSF #13 Westward passenger from ATSF staging (Streator).  Bob D.
• Late 3:30 4:30 PM ATSF #50 Eastward way-freight from East Yard.  Failed to record crew name.
• 4:30 PM PE #90 Eastward freight from East Peoria.  Alex M.
• 4:45 PM ATSF #49 Westward way-freight from ATSF staging (Streator).  Mike H.
• 6:45 PM ATSF Eastward extra local freight from East Yard, only if needed.  Mike H + Bob D.
• 7:00pm ATSF #18 Eastward mail and express from Pekin.  Paul H.
• 8:25 PM ATSF coal extra from Streator to East Yard.  Al K.
• Clock off at 9:18 PM
• 1:20am PE #99 Westward freight from PE staging (Bloomington).  Did not run due to end of session.

ATSF train orders issued during this session, afternoon of Tue 9/22/1959:

Order #	To	Body	Complete
7	C+E Eng 2101 at East Yard	ENGINE 2101 RUN EXTRA EAST YARD TO STREATOR	12:32 PM
8	C+E Eng 715 at Streator	ENGINE 715 RUN EXTRA STREATOR TO EAST YARD	1:50 PM
9	C+E Eng No 50 at East Yard	No 50 RUN 1 HOUR LATE	3:27 PM
10	C+E No 50 at East Yard C+E No 49 at Streator	No 50 MEET No 49 AT ROANOKE No 49 TAKE SIDING	4:10 PM
11	C+E Eng 203C at East Yard	ENGINE 203C RUN EXTRA EAST YARD TO STREATOR	6:43 PM
12	C+E Extra 126 West at Streator C+E Extra 203C East at Morton	EXTRA 126 WEST MEET EXTRA 203C AT MORTON	8:12 PM
13	C+E Eng 126 at Streator	ENGINE 126 RUN EXTRA STREATOR TO EAST YARD	8:25 PM

No PE train orders issued during this session, afternoon of Tue 9/22/1959:

Order #	To	Body	Complete

No CIM train orders issued during this session, afternoon of Tue 9/22/1959:

Order #	To	Body	Complete

Final thoughts:

• The layout mostly ran well.
• We had several shorts due to people running turnouts that shorted the entire layout.  I need to slow down the trip speed of the command station some more to make sure the PSX circuit breakers trip before the command station, to avoid the entire layout shorting at once.
• One of the shorts took out two locomotives.  They appeared fully dead and unresponsive.  After the session when put back on the rails they both appeared fine and had no signs of trouble.  Odd.  The only common factor was Digitrax decoders, although different decoder models in the two.
• Getting crew to remember to sign the register, and if they do, to sign the correct side of the register, continues to be a bit of a problem.  If crew aren't signing the register it most likely means that they also aren't checking the register for the arrival or departure of all superior trains, which is a big problem in TT&TO.  I think I'll need to add more to the intro talk about the correct use of the register.
• I had slightly adjusted the location of the Digitrax UR93 duple radio before the session. There were no complaints about the radio, so perhaps this new location and radio unit orientation is helpful.
• In afternoon (railroad time) sessions the Pekin and East Peoria areas continue to be a bit congested with people as the ATSF Pekin switcher, PPU switcher, and PE switcher work in close proximity to each other, along with arriving and departing trains on the ATSF and PE.  I need to talk to the guys running those jobs to see how it worked out for them.
• I had previously settled on six crew being the perfect number of crew on the layout.  Seven crew also works if two person crews are put on the local extras.  I enjoy running two person crews on other people's layouts, but have heard that not everyone enjoys being part of a two person crew.  I think it's nice to be able to put a person who is new to TT&TO on a two person crew with someone who is experienced so that they learn from the experienced crew member.
• The crew of the ATSF Pekin switcher suggested that the passenger trains are rather long for the passenger track in Pekin.  I will try running shorter passenger trains next session.
• After the session I took a few of the crew over to visit a nearby layout.  Bill S's C&NW.
• The session was a success and I think everyone had fun.

Next op session is scheduled for mid March for Amrail.